SteveM I was pleasantly surprised, this is the earliest I have taken cuttings. We do have high light intensity at 22 degrees North latitude. However, cuttings I have taken in the fall under similar day length failed to root, I will try again this year. Perhaps they can sense lengthening vs shortening days.
Without supplemental lighting, dahlias do not grow well year round here. Around late September/October, bloom quality declines. I stop watering and they go dormant. The ones I have left growing over winter kind of just stop growing, they keep their leaves but not really growing. An odd flower here or there but with weak stems and poor centers. One of my goals is to add lighting and try growing year round, but I’m not there yet.
